Job description

Overview

The Vacation Group, a comprehensive travel collective that includes brands such as Andrew Harper, Barrhead Travel, Cruise Specialists, and Vacation.com, operates under Internova Travel Group. They offer a wide range of travel services including flights, cruises, luxury cruises, and customized vacations. The group is recognized for its experienced travel advisors and customer service professionals who deliver personalized and valuable travel experiences. Their strong industry partnerships with companies like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Oceania Cruises position them as a distinguished name in travel excellence and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the establishment and scaling of a direct-to-consumer B2C tour operator division, encompassing operational setup, organizational structure, and staffing.
Create scalable frameworks to streamline product creation, packaging, and delivery processes to accelerate market readiness.
Integrate the new tour operator capabilities with existing offerings such as cruises, air travel, and hotels.
Define and develop the core product lineup emphasizing luxury curated journeys, premium packaged holidays, and experiential travel with clear differentiation.
Develop product pillars like small-group tours, hosted departures, exclusive itineraries, and combined land, cruise, and pre/post-trip packages ensuring strong commercial viability and profitability.
Lead global supplier sourcing and negotiation, including hotels, airlines, destination management companies, and experiences to secure preferential rates and exclusive partnerships.
Drive distribution strategies utilizing multi-channel models including in-house travel advisors and digital platforms, focusing on direct-to-consumer growth and internal advisor engagement.
Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Cruise, Air, and Technology teams to develop go-to-market strategies, campaigns, and technology solutions supporting booking and packaging.
Oversee operational delivery covering booking fulfillment, customer service, post-booking support, and in-destination execution, establishing standardized protocols and ensuring high-quality customer experience.
Take full accountability for the P&L of the tour operator division, setting pricing strategies, margin goals, and monitoring revenue growth, gross margins, attach rates, and customer retention.

Qualifications

Over 10 years of experience in tour operating, travel product management, or leadership within leisure travel sectors.
Proven track record in launching or expanding a tour operator or travel product business.
Expertise in supplier contracting, product packaging, and margin management.
Comprehensive understanding of the US B2C travel market and consumer behaviors.
Successful experience in managing profit and loss and driving business growth.
Strong leadership skills and ability to manage diverse stakeholders effectively.

Compensation and Benefits

Offers choice between two medical and dental insurance plans.
Vision insurance and flexible spending accounts available.
Company-paid life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance with options for additional coverage.
Disability insurance and paid parental leave.
Paid time off and 401(k) plan with company match.
Discounted employee travel opportunities.
Access to professional development through webinars and courses.
Discounted pet insurance and auto, home, and renters insurance.
Potential eligibility for incentives, commissions, bonuses, or discretionary awards based on company and individual performance.

Additional Information

The Vacation Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making hiring decisions irrespective of age, race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected classification. Salary ranges consider various factors such as experience and location and comply with pay transparency laws. This role is based in the United States and requires onsite presence.

Prospective Employee Privacy Policy applies.

Vice President, Tour Operations